The contribution of all of our volunteers to the local community in Knowle was recognised on Friday 28th October 2016. At a special ceremony in St John’s Hall, Deputy Lord Lieutenant for the West Midlands, David Bradnock, presented the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service to the Society. He described the award as an ‘MBE for Voluntary Organisations’ as he presented the engraved glass award to David Bower, son of the founder and second President of the Society, Dr R J Bower. A framed citation from the Queen was then presented to Leighton Jones, who was the Society’s Chairman at the time of its nomination for the award. The Deputy Lord Lieutenant told the audience of Trustees, volunteers and invited guests that selection and vetting was very rigorous and those organisations awarded had to be of a very high standard. The Mayor and Mayoress of Solihull, Councillor and Mrs Mike Robinson and Councillor Bob Sleigh, Leader of the Council and Chairman of the new West Midlands Combined Authority, and his wife, also attended the ceremony.